Last fall, Collinsville High School junior Lillian O'Donnell approached her Teaching as a Profession instructor, Shawn Geppert, about starting a project to create letters and cards for Letters of Love, an organization that sends greetings of emotional support to patients in children's hospitals across the world. 

Inspired by Lillian, students in the Teaching as a Profession class took the lead to organize and distribute materials, then collect and sort through the cards.

"What started as a class project this spring evolved to include the whole high school with many teachers participating," says Geppert, "One of the staff also works at Kreitner and asked if she could involve them. Clearly we opened it up to them and thought why not include everyone." 

In addition to CHS and Kreitner Elementary, Twin Echo Elementary, Renfro Elementary, and Dorris Intermediate School participated.  The combined total of the positive cards and letters submitted to Letters of Love totaled 970. 

"One person's idea will bring 970 children a smile during a rough time," adds Geppert, "As well as all those Kahoks that participated in making it happen!"